Ackermans van Haaren

Ackermans & van Haaren is a diversified Belgian holding company, founded in 1876, and headquartered in Antwerp, Belgium. The company is listed on the Euronext Brussels stock exchange and has a market capitalization of over €4 billion.
The main activity of Ackermans & van Haaren is through its portfolio of strategic participations in a wide range of sectors such as dredging and environment, contracthing, real estate, financial services and private equity, among others. The company’s core business is focused on long-term, value-driven investments and strategic partnerships, with a majority of their business concentrated in Europe and Asia.
Ackermans & van Haaren’s portfolio comprises of four main business units:
1. DEME Group: A world-leading company in the field of dredging, land reclamation, maritime infrastructure and environmental projects.
2. Contracting: A portfolio of contracting companies engaged in civil engineering, marine engineering, specialty foundation works, and energy and infrastructure.
3. Real Estate and Senior Care: Engaged in real estate development and management, with a particular focus on residential, office and mixed-use projects. The company also has investments in senior care facilities.
4. Private Banking & Financial Services: The company is a majority shareholder in Bank J.Van Breda & Co., which provides specialized banking and wealth management services to entrepreneurs and liberal professions in Belgium.
In addition to its core business, Ackermans & van Haaren also has a small portfolio of private equity investments in high-growth sectors such as technology and healthcare.
Overall, Ackermans & van Haaren is a long-standing and well-respected company with a diverse and stable portfolio of strategic investments. With a strong focus on long-term value creation, the company is well-positioned to continue its success in the future.

1. Diverse Portfolio: Ackermans van Haaren (AvH) has a diverse portfolio of investments ranging from financial services, real estate, renewable energy, infrastructure, and private equity. This diversification allows the company to mitigate risks and capitalize on different market opportunities.
2. Long-Term Outlook: AvH has a long-term outlook and invests in projects that have the potential for sustained growth and profitability. This approach has enabled the company to weather economic downturns and deliver consistent returns to shareholders.
3. Strong Financial Performance: The company has a strong financial performance, with consistent revenue and profit growth. In the past five years, the company’s revenue and profits have increased by an average of 7% and 10% per year, respectively.
4. Experienced Management Team: AvH is managed by a team of experienced professionals who have extensive expertise in the sectors in which the company operates. This team has a track record of successfully identifying and executing profitable investments.
5. Sustainable Growth: Sustainability is a key focus for AvH, and the company is committed to promoting environmentally responsible practices in all its investments. This approach not only benefits the environment but also creates long-term value for the company and its stakeholders.
6. Strong Corporate Governance: AvH has a strong corporate governance structure, which ensures transparency, accountability and protects the interests of shareholders and other stakeholders.
7. Active Investor: As an active investor, AvH takes a hands-on approach to its investments and actively participates in the strategic development and operational management of its portfolio companies.
8. Strong Track Record: With a history spanning over 140 years, AvH has a strong track record of delivering value to its shareholders and stakeholders. This long-standing presence in the market reflects the company’s stability, reliability, and expertise.
9. Social Responsibility: AvH is committed to giving back to the communities in which it operates through various philanthropic initiatives.
10. Global Reach: AvH has a global reach, with investments and operations in Europe, North America, and Asia. This enables the company to tap into diverse markets and opportunities, expanding its potential for growth and profitability.

The business model of Ackermans van Haaren (AvH) is focused on investing in various businesses and actively managing these investments for long-term growth and profitability. AvH operates as a diversified holding company and primarily invests in four main sectors: Marine Engineering & Infrastructure, Private Banking, Real Estate & Senior Care and Energy & Resources.
In the Marine Engineering & Infrastructure sector, AvH holds stakes in a wide range of companies engaged in dredging, offshore infrastructure, port operations, and shipyards. This segment also includes investments in dredging and offshore engineering activities through its majority-owned subsidiary DEME, a global leader in the industry.
In the Private Banking sector, AvH’s main investment is in Bank J.Van Breda & C°, a private bank that caters to entrepreneurs, liberal professions, and family businesses in Belgium. AvH also holds a stake in the Luxembourg-based bank, Merit Capital.
In Real Estate & Senior Care, AvH develops and holds investments in residential, commercial and retail real estate, as well as senior housing facilities. The company has a significant presence in Belgium, but also invests in other European countries through its subsidiaries Leasinvest Real Estate and Extensa.
Lastly, in Energy & Resources, AvH focuses on investments in oil and gas exploration and production, renewable energy, and resources such as gold and diamonds. The company’s major investment in this sector is through its subsidiary SIPEF, which is a leading agro-industrial company with operations in vegetable oil and palm oil plantations in Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, and Ivory Coast.
Overall, the business model of Ackermans van Haaren is based on identifying and investing in companies with strong market positions and long-term growth potential, actively managing these investments, and diversifying across different sectors to minimize risk. AvH’s goal is to generate sustainable returns for its shareholders by maintaining a portfolio of high-quality investments and continuously seeking out new opportunities.

1. The company was founded in 1876 as a shipping and trading company by Alphonse Ackermans and Nicolas van Haaren.
2. The company’s headquarters is located in Antwerp, Belgium, but it has operations and investments across Europe, Africa, and Asia.
3. In the early years, the company focused on activities related to the shipping industry, such as shipbuilding, chartering, and transportation.
4. Today, the company has diversified its activities and investments across various industries, including dredging and land reclamation, real estate, financial services, energy, and development capital.
5. One of the main sources of the company’s wealth is its ownership of CFE, a Belgian construction and dredging company. Ackermans van Haaren owns a 60.4% stake in CFE.
6. Ackermans van Haaren is also the majority shareholder of DEME, one of the world’s largest dredging and marine engineering companies.
7. The company has a long history of investing in promising startups and emerging companies. Some of its successful investments include biopharmaceutical company Ablynx, online bank Keytrade Bank, and communication technology company Barco.
8. In recent years, the company has been actively investing in renewable energy projects, specifically wind and solar power parks in Europe and Africa.
9. The Ackermans van Haaren group employs over 24,000 people worldwide and had a total consolidated revenue of €6.4 billion in 2020.
10. The company has a strong commitment to corporate social responsibility and sustainability. It has implemented various initiatives to reduce its environmental impact and has set targets to achieve carbon neutrality by 2025.